• Event to promote crafts, innovation and regional cooperation
• Fair expected to boost market access and partnerships for artisans

Côte d’Ivoire has been designated guest of honor at the 9th edition of the International Craft Fair of Cameroon (Siarc), scheduled to take place from July 27 to August 7, 2026, in Yaoundé.

The announcement followed a meeting on March 26 between Cameroon’s Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bassilekin III, and his Ivorian counterpart, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, on the sidelines of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference.

Speaking after the meeting, the Ivorian minister confirmed the decision, noting that both sides had discussed Côte d’Ivoire’s participation as guest of honor at the upcoming edition of the fair.

Siarc is a biennial event dedicated to promoting and marketing artisanal products. It provides artisans and other sector players with a platform to showcase their work to both domestic and international audiences, generate income, and build commercial partnerships.

The 2024 edition, held from July 22 to 31 in Yaoundé, drew more than 15,000 visitors. The 2026 edition will focus on the theme: “Between tradition and modernity: how to drive innovation in crafts.”

By selecting Côte d’Ivoire as guest of honor, Cameroonian authorities are giving the event a stronger regional dimension. The decision is expected to encourage exchanges between artisans from both countries and open up new opportunities for market access, cooperation, and the circulation of skills in a sector that remains underdeveloped but holds significant value potential.

BRM, with Business in Cameroon